What is the number 1 last name in America?

The most common last name in the United States is Smith, followed by Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and genealogy sites like Ancestry.com. These names predominantly have English, Scottish, or Irish origins, reflecting early European settlement, with "Smith" referring to a metalworker.


What is the #1 last name in the world?

The Most Common Last Name on Earth

There's no doubt about which surname is the most popular in the world: Wang. More than 106 million people have the surname Wang, a Mandarin term for "prince" or "king."

What is the top 10 last name?

Top 10 Last Names in America
  • Smith (2,442,977 people)
  • Johnson (1,932,812 people)
  • Williams (1,625,252 people)
  • Brown (1,437,026 people)
  • Jones (1,425,470 people)
  • Garcia (1,166,120 people)
  • Miller (1,161,437 people)
  • Davis (1,116,357 people)


What is the #1 girl name?

The #1 girl name in the U.S. is Olivia, holding the top spot for several years according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), with other top contenders including Emma, Amelia, and Charlotte, while sites like BabyCenter and What to Expect confirm Olivia's popularity for recent years, reflecting consistent trends. 

What is the rarest US name?

Here are the rarest baby names from United States by state:
  • Texas - Taslin.
  • Utah - Arikka.
  • Vermont - Wylder.
  • Virginia - Lakhi.
  • Washington - Chelan.
  • West Virginia - Haylea.
  • Wisconsin - Yuepheng.
  • Wyoming - Mazikeen.


AF-261: Do You Have Irish Genealogy? Use This Handy Surname Guide to Trace Your Heritage



What's the rarest last name?

There's no single "rarest" last name globally, as it depends on location and data, but names like Scherwinger, Warsmith, Bovine, and Cushion are cited as extremely rare, sometimes existing in only a handful of individuals or bloodlines in the U.S., with others like Yess, Zillmann, or Wooledge having under 100 bearers in the US according to recent censuses, highlighting names on the brink of extinction. 

What is a full last name?

A "full name" refers to an individual's complete legal name, as it appears on official documents such as birth certificates, passports, or driver's licenses. This typically includes all given names (first and middle names) and the surname (last name). It is crucial for accurate identification and legal purposes.

What's the longest last name ever?

The longest last name belongs to the late German-American typesetter Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr., whose full surname was a single word 666 letters long, part of a name that included 26 given names, one for each letter of the alphabet. While his full name was extremely long and complex (often shortened or varied due to typos), it held the record for the longest personal name ever used, though government forms often used a shorter version.
 


What is the richest last name?

The wealthiest dynasties in the world have never been richer — and the Waltons lead the pack with a net worth of $513.4 billion.

What is the oldest last name?

The oldest surname depends on the region, with some of the earliest documented European names being Irish like O'Clery (Ó Cléirigh) from 916 AD, while some of the earliest global contenders include Chinese names from ancient China (2852 BC) and Babylonian names like Kushim (3400-3000 BCE). Other candidates for oldest still-used names include Cohen/Hakohen (priestly lineage) and occupational names like Smith or Hatt, showing family names developed differently worldwide. 

What is the #1 Mexican last name?

List of the most common surnames in Mexico: Hernández – 5,526,929. García – 4,129,360.


Which last name goes first in the USA?

Generally, there are no set rules or etiquette when it comes to deciding exactly how your hyphenated last name will read. You can go the "traditional" route and list your maiden name first, or you could choose to list your new last name first, followed by your original last name.

What is the most common Caucasian last name?

The most common white last names in the U.S. are typically English/Germanic in origin, with Smith, Johnson, Miller, Brown, and Jones leading the list, often reflecting early European settlement patterns, though names like Williams, Wilson, Anderson, Taylor, and Davis are also extremely prevalent among white populations.
 

What are the top 5 last names?

The top 5 last names in the U.S., based on U.S. Census data, are consistently Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones, followed closely by Spanish surnames like Garcia, Rodriguez, and Martinez, reflecting a diverse demographic shift. These names have remained dominant for years, with Smith, an occupational name for a craftsman, often leading the list.
 


What is a legal last name?

Definition & meaning

The term full legal name refers to a person's complete name as recognized by law. This includes the individual's first name, any middle names, and their last name or surname. It is important to note that initials or nicknames are not included in this definition.

What last names have died out?

Extinct surnames are those that have died out, often due to a lack of male heirs or assimilation, with examples including rare historical English names like Chips, Hatman, and Rummage, and modern "endangered" names such as Dankworth, Birdwhistle, and MacQuoid, which have very few bearers left, often due to spelling variations or very localized family lines disappearing. Surnames vanish when families cease to use them, sometimes replaced by more common variants or hyphenated names, making genealogy research crucial for preserving these unique identifiers. 

What is a royal last name?

A royal last name isn't always used, but for the British Royal Family, the official name is Windsor, changed from the German Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1917; however, direct descendants often use Mountbatten-Windsor, a blend reflecting Prince Philip's heritage, and some use their aristocratic titles (like Sussex or Wales) as surnames, notes this article from The Royal Family and this article from Debretts. Other historical or ruling families have names like Tudor, Stuart, Bourbon, or Habsburg.
 


What is free last name?

English: nickname or status name from Middle English fre 'free' (Old English frēo) with reference to either tenurial status ('free born') or to character ('noble generous open-handed'). Irish: variant of Freeman . Americanized form of Swiss German and German Frei and Frey .

What is a very dark name?

Inspire your little one to see the beauty in life's less-beaten paths with a fun and unique dark name.
  • Etro.
  • Banshee.
  • Sabe.
  • Grimsleigh.
  • Keer.
  • Beelzebub.
  • Blackburne.
  • Llorona.


Can I name my kid Nutella?

No, you generally cannot legally name a child "Nutella" in the U.S. or France, as courts and authorities often ban names that are commercial brands, could cause the child ridicule (like a food product), contain numbers/symbols, or are deemed against the child's best interest. While U.S. laws vary by state, names like Nutella, King, or "@" are frequently prohibited to protect children from lifelong teasing, with judges sometimes renaming children to alternatives like "Ella" in France. 


What is the #1 boy name?

The #1 boy name in the U.S. is consistently Liam, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA) data for 2023 (released May 2024), a spot it has held for several years, followed closely by Noah and Oliver. While lists for 2024 and 2025 data (often from BabyCenter or news sites using SSA data) generally agree on Liam, Noah, and Oliver as top contenders, Liam has reigned supreme in recent official records.